The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 produces a playable but demanding experience in The Medium, with performance scaling that clearly points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The combo ranks in the 54th percentile of tested configurations, indicating a mid-pack result that is solid but not exceptional for this horror title.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, revealing a system that is heavily constrained by graphics processing power rather than CPU throughput. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 107 FPS at 1920x1080 to 90 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 17 FPS, and then plummets to 71 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 34% total loss from the 1080p baseline. This pattern of diminishing returns with each resolution step is typical of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At Medium settings, the average drops from 67 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 1440p, and then falls sharply to 44 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Medium is roughly 34%, similar to the Low preset, but the absolute frame rates are lower, meaning the 4K experience dips below the 45 FPS threshold. At High settings, the progression is 48 FPS at 1080p, 40 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K, with the 4K result falling below 30 FPS. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with 38 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and a barely playable 25 FPS at 4K.

The fact that the gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistently smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K indicates that the RTX 5070's memory bandwidth and shading capacity become increasingly taxed as pixel count rises. The 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 192-bit bus width are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K resolution pushes the GPU to its limits. The data shows that the CPU, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, is not the limiting factor in any scenario, as the frame rate scaling follows a purely graphics-driven curve. For users targeting 4K, the results suggest that only the Low preset provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, while Medium and High presets require acceptance of sub-60 performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support provide ample bandwidth for game logic and asset streaming. In The Medium, a game that relies on fixed camera angles and pre-rendered transitions rather than massive open-world simulations, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU.

Benchmark results show the processor scores 2641 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 9233 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 14551 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The single-core scores are equally telling: 257 in R15, 1303 in R20, and 1759 in R23. These figures place the CPU in the 84th percentile of all processors, indicating strong performance for a mobile chip. The nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, is only 0.3% ahead in average benchmark score, while the AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 are both 0.4% behind. This tight grouping suggests that the 165H is well within the expected performance envelope for its class.

The Medium's frame rate data shows no signs of CPU throttling. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 107 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate that a weaker processor would likely bottleneck. The fact that the same CPU maintains similar relative performance across all resolutions confirms that the processor is delivering consistent frame times. The Passmark multithread score of 25933 and single-thread score of 3509 further substantiate that the CPU has sufficient headroom for this game's requirements. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that single-threaded tasks, such as the game's main logic loop, are handled efficiently.

The data indicates that the CPU is not a limiting factor in any of the tested configurations. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the system reaches 107 FPS without any indication of processor saturation. For a game like The Medium, which has a more cinematic pacing and does not feature complex physics simulations or large numbers of AI agents, the 165H's 16 cores are more than adequate. The processor's 28 W TDP and mobile form factor do not appear to hinder performance in this workload, as the benchmark results remain consistent with expectations for a chip in the 84th percentile.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 1566 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the system in the 54th percentile, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of all tested configurations but trails a significant portion of the field. The rank is a reflection of the GPU's mid-tier positioning rather than any CPU deficiency, as the processor's percentile ranking is notably higher than the combo's overall standing.

The RTX 5070, with its 6144 shading units and 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, is a capable but not top-tier GPU. Its 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests that the graphics card is the component holding the combo back from a higher overall rank. The GPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (0.8% ahead), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (1.2% behind). These professional-grade cards, while not typically associated with gaming, demonstrate that the RTX 5070 sits in a competitive performance band.

The combo's mid-pack ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 67 FPS, which is playable but not exceptional. At 4K Ultra, the 25 FPS result places the combo in the lower tier of systems that attempt to run the game at maximum settings. The 2911 tested combos include a wide range of hardware, from entry-level integrated graphics to flagship desktop GPUs, so a 54th percentile ranking indicates that this mobile setup is competitive with a majority of systems but cannot match the performance of high-end desktop configurations.

The rank also reflects the game's specific optimization characteristics. The Medium is a horror title that uses fixed camera angles and dual-reality rendering, which can be demanding on GPU resources. The combo's performance suggests that the RTX 5070's 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for most scenarios, but the 192-bit memory bus and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth are limiting factors at higher resolutions. The data shows that the combo is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it ranks more favorably, than for 4K, where it falls behind more powerful configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 107 FPS on Low, 67 FPS on Medium, 48 FPS on High, and 38 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS, indicating a stable frame time distribution with no severe dips. The 1080p results demonstrate that the combo is well-suited for high refresh rate monitors at lower settings, and even the Ultra preset remains playable, though it falls below the 40 FPS threshold that many players prefer for smooth motion.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop to 90 FPS on Low, 56 FPS on Medium, 40 FPS on High, and 32 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS, which is a tighter range than the 1080p Medium result. This indicates that the GPU is working harder at this resolution, but the frame pacing remains consistent. The High preset at 40 FPS is borderline playable, while the Ultra preset at 32 FPS is likely to feel sluggish during fast-paced sequences. The 1440p results suggest that Medium is the sweet spot for this resolution, offering a good balance between visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the system achieves 71 FPS on Low, 44 FPS on Medium, 32 FPS on High, and 25 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 51 FPS, which is a wider variance than lower resolutions and indicates that the GPU is under significant load. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only 4K configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at 32 and 25 FPS respectively are below the playable threshold for most users, and even the Medium preset's 44 FPS average may be too low for those sensitive to frame rate fluctuations. The 4K data clearly shows that the combo is not designed for native 4K gaming at high settings.

The overall pattern across all resolutions is that the combo performs best at Low and Medium settings, with a significant drop-off at High and Ultra. The difference between Medium and High is consistently around 20 FPS at 1080p and 1440p, and 12 FPS at 4K. The difference between High and Ultra is smaller, suggesting that the Ultra preset's additional graphical features are not as demanding as the step from Medium to High. The minimum and maximum frame rates for the Medium preset provide valuable insight into frame pacing, showing that the combo maintains a stable experience at this setting across all resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the dominant component in this combo, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 6144 shading units and 192 texture mapping units are complemented by 80 raster output units, which are responsible for the final pixel output. The boost clock of 2512 MHz and base clock of 2325 MHz, combined with 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, give the card substantial compute power.

The memory configuration is a key factor in the performance scaling observed in the measured data. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for The Medium at all tested resolutions and settings, as the game does not appear to exceed this capacity. However, the 192-bit bus width and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth become limiting factors at 4K, where the GPU must move larger amounts of texture and geometry data. The frame rate drop from 1440p to 4K is more severe than from 1080p to 1440p, which is consistent with the memory bandwidth becoming a bottleneck at higher pixel counts.

The GPU's ray tracing capabilities, with 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, are not directly tested in the measured data, as The Medium does not require ray tracing for its core rendering. The 250 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate that this is a power-hungry mobile GPU, but the performance results show that it is well-matched to the Intel CPU. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40377, places it in a competitive position, though its nearest rivals are professional cards like the AMD Radeon Pro 580 and Radeon Pro WX 7100, which are not typically used for gaming.

The FP32 performance of 30.87 TFLOPS is a strong indicator of the GPU's ability to handle The Medium's shading workload. The game's fixed camera angles and pre-baked lighting reduce the need for dynamic shader calculations, but the dual-reality rendering technique can be demanding on pixel throughput. The pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s provide the necessary throughput for the resolutions tested. The data shows that the GPU delivers its best performance at 1080p and 1440p, where its memory bandwidth and compute resources are not fully saturated, and struggles at 4K, where the combination of pixel count and memory pressure overwhelms the card.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset provides an average of 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS, making it the best choice for a smooth and visually appealing experience. The High preset at 48 FPS is playable but represents a significant drop in smoothness, while the Ultra preset at 38 FPS is only suitable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. The Low preset at 107 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high refresh rate displays, but it sacrifices the atmospheric lighting and texture detail that define The Medium's horror aesthetic.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is again the recommended choice, delivering 56 FPS on average with a minimum of 48 FPS. This provides a playable experience with good visual quality, though the frame rate is below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer. The Low preset at 90 FPS is the only 1440p configuration that maintains a high frame rate, and it may be preferable for those who prioritize smoothness. The High preset at 40 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 32 FPS is not recommended for extended play sessions due to the risk of motion sickness and input lag.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only 4K configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience, and it should be the default choice for any 4K display. The Medium preset at 44 FPS is playable but requires a tolerance for frame rate dips, as the minimum of 37 FPS indicates potential stuttering during intense scenes. The High and Ultra presets at 32 and 25 FPS respectively are not recommended, as they fall below the generally accepted 30 FPS minimum for playable frame rates. For 4K users, the Low preset offers the best balance of performance and visual quality, though it does mean sacrificing many of the game's graphical enhancements.

The data shows that the Medium preset is the best overall choice for this combo across all resolutions, as it provides a playable frame rate at 1080p and 1440p while maintaining a reasonable experience at 4K. The step from Medium to High yields a significant performance cost that is not justified by the visual improvements, while the step from Low to Medium provides a substantial quality boost for a moderate frame rate penalty. For users with 1080p or 1440p displays, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. For 4K users, the Low preset is necessary to maintain a smooth experience, and the Medium preset should only be considered if frame rate fluctuations are acceptable. The combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can deliver a satisfying horror experience without compromise.